Geometry and 3D seismic characterisation of post-rift normal faults in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data acquired in the Pearl(Zhujiang)River Mouth Basin of the northern South China Sea,this study investigated the geometry,spatial extension,and throw distribution of the post-rift normal fault through detailed seismic interpretation and fault modeling.A total of 289 post-rift normal faults were identified in the study area and can be classified into four types:(1)isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform;(2)isolated normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform;(3)conjugate normal faults,and(4)connecting normal faults.Throw distribution analysis on the fault planes show that the vertical throw profiles of most normal fault exhibit flat-topped profiles.Isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform exhibit roughly concentric ellipses with maximum throw zones in the central section whereas the normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform miss the lowermost section due to the chaotic seismic reflections in the interior of the carbonate platform.The vertical throws of conjugate normal faults anomalously decrease toward their intersection region on the fault plane whereas the connecting normal faults present two maximum throw zones in the central section of the fault plane.According to the symmetric elliptical distribution model of fault throw,an estimation was made indicating that normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform extended downward between-1308 s and-1780 s(two-way travel time)in depth and may not penetrate the entire Liuhua carbonate platform.Moreover,it is observed that the distribution of karst caves on the top of the carbonate platform disaccord with those of hydrocarbon reservoirs and the post-rift normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform in the study area.We propose that these karst caves formed most probably by corrosive fluids derived from magmatic activities during the Dongsha event,rather than pore waters or hydrocarbons.

Tectonic-thermal history and hydrocarbon potential of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea:Insights from borehole apatite fission-track thermochronology

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is one of the most petroliferous basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Knowledge of the thermal history of the PRMB is significant for understanding its tectonic evolution and for unraveling its poorly studied source-rock maturation history.Our investigations in this study are based on apatite fission-track(AFT)thermochronology analysis of 12 cutting samples from 4 boreholes.Both AFT ages and length data suggested that the PRMB has experienced quite complicated thermal evolution.Thermal history modeling results unraveled four successive events of heating separated by three stages of cooling since the early Middle Eocene.The cooling events occurred approximately in the Late Eocene,early Oligocene,and the Late Miocene,possibly attributed to the Zhuqiong II Event,Nanhai Event,and Dongsha Event,respectively.The erosion amount during the first cooling stage is roughly estimated to be about 455-712 m,with an erosion rate of 0.08-0.12 mm/a.The second erosion-driven cooling is stronger than the first one,with an erosion amount of about 747-814 m and an erosion rate between about 0.13-0.21 mm/a.The erosion amount calculated related to the third cooling event varies from 800 m to 3419 m,which is speculative due to the possible influence of the magmatic activity.

Projection of the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Delta's potential submerged area due to sea level rise during the 21st century based on CMIP5 simulations

Projections of potential submerged area due to sea level rise are helpful for improving understanding of the influence of ongoing global warming on coastal areas. The Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition method is used to adaptively decompose the sea level time series in order to extract the secular trend component. Then the linear relationship between the global mean sea level （GMSL） change and the Zhujiang （Pearl） River Delta （PRD） sea level change is calculated： an increase of 1.0 m in the GMSL corresponds to a 1.3 m （uncertainty interval from 1.25 to 1.46 m） increase in the PRD. Based on this relationship and the GMSL rise projected by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 under three greenhouse gas emission scenarios （representative concentration pathways, or RCPs, from low to high emission scenarios RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5）, the PRD sea level is calculated and projected for the period 2006-2100. By around the year 2050, the PRD sea level will rise 0.29 （0.21 to 0.40） m under RCP2.6, 0.31 （0.22 to 0.42） m under RCP4.5, and 0.34 （0.25 to 0.46） m under RCP8.5, respectively. By 2100, it will rise 0.59 （0.36 to 0.88） m, 0.71 （0.47 to 1.02） m, and 1.0 （0.68 to 1.41） m, respectively. In addition, considering the extreme value of relative sea level due to land subsidence （i.e., 0.20 m） and that obtained from intermonthly variability （i.e., 0.33 m）, the PRD sea level will rise 1.94 m by the year 2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario with the upper uncertainty level （i.e., 1.41 m）. Accordingly, the potential submerged area is 8.57x103 km2 for the PRD, about 1.3 times its present area.

Astronomical Dating of the Middle Miocene Hanjiang Formation in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

The Hanjiang Formation of Langhian age （middle Miocene） in the Pearl River Mouth Basin （PRMB）, South China Sea consists of deltaic siliciclastic and neritic shelf carbonate rhythmic alternations, which form one of the potential reservoirs of the basin. To improve stratigraphic resolutions for hydrocarbon prospecting and exploration in the basin, the present study undertakes spectral analysis of high-resolution natural gamma-ray （NGR） well-logging record to determine the dominant frequency components and test whether Milankovitch orbital signals are recorded in rhythmic successions. Analytical results indicate the orbital cycles of precession （~19 ka and ~23 ka）, obliquity （-41 ka）, and eccentricity （~100 ka and --405 ka）, which provide the strong evidence for astronomically driven climate changes in the rhythmic alternation successions. Within biochronological constraint, a high-resolution astronomical timescale was constructed through the astronomical tuning of the NGR record to recent astronomically calculated variation of Earth＇s orbit. The astronomically tuned timescale can be applied to calculate astronomical ages for the geological events and bioevents recognized throughout the period. The first downhole occurrences of foraminifers Globorotalia peripheroronda and Globigerinoides sicanus are dated at 14.546 Ma and 14.919 Ma, respectively, which are slightly different from earlier estimates in the South China Sea. When compared with the global sea-level change chart, the astronomical estimate for the sequences recognized based on microfossil distributions have the same end time but the different initiation time. This is probably due to the local or regional tectonic activities superimposed on eustatic rise which postponed the effect of global sea-level rising. Astronomical timescale also resolves the depositional evolution history for the Langhian Stage （middle Miocene） with a variation that strongly resembles that of Earth＇s orbital eccentricity predicted from 13.65 Ma to 15.97 Ma. We infer that the main factor controlling the variability of the sedimentation rate in the Hanjiang Formation is related to the ^-405-ka-period eccentricity.

The characteristics of Quaternary activity of faults in the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth

By shallow seismic prospecting, it is showed that the faults in the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth are mainly the NE and NW-trending faults. The main activity time of fault is Pliocene to Early Pleistocene, and the latest activity is up to Middle Pleistocene. The maximum of fault is generally several tens meters with the throw decreased upward. The dislocation near the bottom of Middle Pleistocene is 12~13 m. The average vertical dis-placement rate is on a level of 10-3 mm/a.

Deep-water Depositional Features of Miocene Zhujiang Formation in Baiyun Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin

Eleven lithofacies and five lithofacies associations were indentified in the Miocene Zhujiang Formation on the basis of detailed core analysis. It could he determined that three depositional types developed, namely submarine fan, basin and deep-water traction current. Six microfacies were further recognized within the fan, including main channels in the inner fan, distributary channels in the middle fan, inter-channels, levees and the outer fan. The lower Zhujiang Formation, mainly sandstone associations, was inner fan and inner-middle fan deposits of the basin fan and the slope fan. The middle part, mainly mudstone associations, was outer fan deposits. With the transgression, the submarine fan was finally replaced by the basinal pelagic deposits which were dominated by mudstone associations, siltstone associations, and deep-water limestone associations. During the weak gravity flow activity, the lower channels, the middle-upper outer fans and basin deposits were strongly modified by the deep-water traction current. The identification of the deep-water traction deposition in Miocene Zhujiang Formation would be of great importance. It could be inferred that the deep- water traction current had been existing after the shelf-break formation since the Late Oligocene （23.8 Ma） in the Baiyun sag, influencing and controlling the sediment composition, the distribution, and depositional processes. It would provide great enlightenment to the paleo-oceanic current circulation in the northern South China Sea.

Structural Variability and Rifting Process of the Segmented Cenozoic Pearl River Mouth Basin,Northern Continental Margin of the South China Sea

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is an important area for studying the evolution of continental marginal basins in the northern South China Sea(SCS),but the structural variability and spatiotemporal rifting process remains poorly understood.This study investigates the differential structural features of the eastern,middle and western PRMB,as well as the extensional deformation laws in operation during the rifting stage,according to an integrated analysis of geometric characteristics and kinematic parameters,i.e.,horizontal displacement and stretching factors of basin and crust.The PRMB underwent at least three phases of intense extension,which varied in time and space.(1)During the middle Eocene,most sags in the PRMB were intensely stretched and high-angle planar to listric boundary faults controlled the wedge-shaped stratigraphic geometry.(2)During the late Eocene-to-early Oligocene,the stratigraphic geometry of the sags was slightly wedge-shaped and continuously controlled by boundary faults,however,the extensional strength decreased relatively in the Northern depression zone,but increased in the Southern depression zone.(3)During the late Oligocene,the extension was extremely weak in the northeast PRMB,but relatively strong in the southwest PRMB,leading to tabular stratigraphic geometry in the northeast PRMB,but localized slightly wedge-shaped stratigraphic geometry in the southwest.The southwest PRMB still underwent relatively strong extension during the early Miocene.The southwest PRMB that was induced by a small-scale localized mantle convection system constantly rifted during the late Oligocene,controlled by the weak lithosphere,westward(southwestward)diachronous opening and southward jump of the ocean ridge.The applied quantitative parameters and spatiotemporal rifting process may be used as a reference with which to study the segmented continental margin rifts.

Preliminary Study on Cenozoic Group and Fault Activity in the Sea Area Near the Yangtze River Mouth

By shallow seismic prospecting, the Cenozoic Group in the sea area near the Yangtze River Mouth can be divided into five seismic sequences. They correspond to the Quaternary, Pliocene, Upper Miocene, Lower Miocene and Eocene respectively. The Quaternary System covers all the detecting area. The Tertiary System overlaps and thins out from NE to SW. The sedimentary basement mainly consists of volcanic rock (J 3) and acidic rock (r 3 5). Paleogene or Late Cretaceous basins are not found there. The faults that have been detected are all normal faults. They can be divided into three groups (NE, NW, near EW) by their trend. The NE and NW trending faults are predominant, and agree with aeromagnetic anomaly. Their length and displacement are larger than that of the EW trending faults. The activity of the NE trending faults is different in different segments. The SW segment is a Quaternary fault, the middle segment is a Neogene fault, The NE is Paleogene. But the segment of the NW trending fault is not obvious. The average vertical displacement rate is about 0 015mm/a.

Tectonic Evolution and Dynamics of Deepwater Area of Pearl River Mouth Basin, Northern South China Sea

Quantitative studies on the evolution and dynamics of the deepwater area of Pearl River Mouth basin （PRMB） were carried out based on the latest geological and seismic data. The study area is generally in an extensional state during the Cenozoic. The major extension happened in the earlier syn-rift stages before 23 Ma and the extension after 23 Ma is negligible. Two rapid subsidence periods, 32-23 Ma and 5.3-2.6 Ma, are identified, which are related to the abrupt heat decay during margin breakup and the collision between the Philippine Sea plate and the Eurasian plate, respectively. The strongest crustal thinning in the Baiyun （白云） sag may trigger the syn-rift volcanism along the weak faulted belt around the sag. The Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the study area could be divided into five stages： rifting （～50-40 Ma）, rift-drift transition （～40-32 Ma）, early post-breakup （～32-23 Ma）, thermal subsidence （～23-5.3 Ma） and neotectonic movement （～5.3-0 Ma）.

Basin-filling processes and hydrocarbon source rock prediction of low-exploration degree areas in rift lacustrine basins:a case from the Wenchang Formation in low-exploration degree areas,northern Zhu I Depression,Pearl River Mouth Basin,E China

Hydrocarbon source rocks, as a main geologic factor of petroliferous systems in a sedimentary basin, play a key role in the accumulation of oil and gas and the formation of hydrocarbon accumulations. This study, which focuses on difficulties in prediction of hydrocarbon source rocks in basins or sags with low exploration degree and insufficient hydrocarbon source rock indicators, taking the Wenchang Formation of northern Zhu I Depression, Pearl River Mouth Basin as an example, proposed a hypothesis of “finding lakes and hydrocarbon source rocks”. Detailed steps include, first, determination of the lacustrine basin boundary according to analysis of seismic foreset facies, determination of the depositional area based on the compilation of strata residual thickness maps, determination of the lacustrine basin shape according to deciphering slope break belt system, determination of the fluctuation of paleo-water depth according to biogeochemical indicators of mature exploration areas, determination of the lacustrine basin scale based on analyses of tectonics intensity and accommodation space, which prove the existence of the lacustrine basin and identify the range of semi deep-deep lake;second, further analyses of tectonopalaeogeomorphology, paleo-provenance,palaeoclimate and paleo-water depth to reconstruct the geologic background of the original basin and semideep-deep lacustrine facies, to determine the distribution of semi-deep/deep lacustrine sediments in combination with studies of logging facies, core facies, seismic facies and sedimentary facies, and to rank the sags’ potential of developing hydrocarbon source rocks from controlling factors of source-to-sink system development;third, on the basis of regional sedimentary facies analysis, through identification and assessment of seismic facies types of semi-deep/deep lacustrine basins in mature areas, establishing “hydrocarbon source rock facies” in mature areas to instruct the identification and depicting of hydrocarbon source rocks in semideep/deep lacustrine basins with low exploration degree;fourth, through systematical summary of hydrocarbon-rich geological factors and lower limit index of hydrocarbon formation of the sags already revealed by drilling wells(e.g., sag area, tectonic subsidence amount, accommodation space, provenance characteristic, mudstone thickness, water body environment, sedimentary facies types of hydrocarbon source rocks), in correlation with corresponding indexes of sags with low exploration degree, then the evaluation and sorting of high-quality source rocks in areas with sparsely distributed or no drilling wells can be conducted with multi-factors and multiple dimensions. It is concluded that LF22 sag, HZ10 sag and HZ8 sag are II-order hydrocarbon rich sags;whereas HZS, HZ11 and HZ24 are the III-order hydrocarbon-generating sags.

Characteristics and origin of continental marginal fault depressions under the background of preexisting subduction continental margin,northern South China Sea,China

Based on the new seismic and drilling data and the recent related research results,this paper systematically analyzes the diversity and complexity of evolution process of crustal lithosphere structure and basin structure in the Pearl River Mouth Basin on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Three types of detachment faults of different structural levels exist:crust-mantle detachment,inter-crust detachment and upper crust detachment.It is considered that different types of extensional detachment control different subbasin structures.Many fault depressions controlled by upper crust detachment faults have been found in the Zhu I Depression located in the proximal zone.These detachment faults are usually reformed by magma emplacement or controlled by preexisting faults.Baiyun-Liwan Sag located in the hyperextension area shows different characteristics of internal structure.The Baiyun main sag with relative weak magmatism transformation is a wide-deep fault depression,which is controlled by crust-mantle detachment system.Extensive magmatism occurred in the eastern and southwest fault steps of the Baiyun Sag after Middle Eocene,and the crust ductile extensional deformation resulted in wide-shallow fault depression controlled by the upper crust detachment fault.Based on the classical lithosphere extensional breaking and basin tectonic evolution in the Atlantic margin,it is believed that the magmatic activities and pre-existing structures in the Mesozoic subduction continental margin background are important controlling factors for the diversified continental margin faulted structures in the northern South China Sea.

Tectonic subsidence of the Zhu I Sub-basin in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea

The Pearl River Mouth Basin, which is situated on the northern margin of the South China Sea, has attracted great attention not only because of its tectonic setting but also because of its abundant hydrocarbon resources. We have analyzed the Cenozoic tectonic subsidence history of 4 drilled wells and 43 artificial wells from the Zhu 1 Sub-basin of the Pearl River Mouth Basin by back-stripping, using newly interpreted seismic profiles. We also calculated the average tectonic sub- sidence rates of the four sags in the Zhu 1 Sub-basin. The rifting and post-rifting stages are separated by abrupt changes in the tectonic subsidence curves and average subsidence rates. In the eastem sags of the Zhu 1 Sub- basin, tectonic subsidence started to slow at ca. 30 Ma, compared with ca. 23.8 Ma in the western sags. This probably corresponds to the timing of break-up and suggests that tiffing in the Pearl River Mouth Basin ended earlier in the eastern sags than in the western sags. Anomalously accelerated tectonic subsidence occurred at 17.5-16.4 Ma during the post-tiffing stage, with average subsidence rates as high as 301.9 m/Myr. This distin- guishes the Pearl River Mouth Basin from classical Atlantic passive continental marginal basins, which demonstrate exponentially decaying post-rift tectonic subsidence.

珠三坳陷珠江组一段沉积体系演化过程及其控制因素

珠江组一段沉积时期是珠三坳陷沉积体系演变的重要时期,由早期的大范围三角洲沉积体系演化为晚期的浅海陆架沉积体系,对其演化过程及控制因素展开研究,不仅有利于揭示海侵过程中沉积体系演化过程,而且对浅海陆架有利沉积相带预测具有指导意义。综合利用岩心、测井以及高分辨率三维地震资料,建立了珠三坳陷珠江组一段四级层序地层格架,通过地质-地球物理结合方法查明了珠江组一段沉积体系的时空演化特征,并讨论了沉积演化的主控因素。研究表明:珠三坳陷珠江组一段可划分为PS1、PS2、PS3、PS4共4个四级层序。PS3和PS4时期主要发育三角洲前缘沉积,具有水下分流河道、分流间湾、河口坝和远砂坝等沉积微相组合;PS1和PS2时期以浅海陆架沉积体系大规模发育为特征,在研究区西部发育潮流砂脊,东部发育滨外砂坝。珠三坳陷沉积体系的平面展布以及垂向演化受相对海平面变化、物源供给强度、构造沉降与古地貌等综合控制。水下分流河道、潮流砂脊与滨外砂坝等微相砂岩占比高且物性好,为油气储集的有利沉积相带。

砂岩储层中凝灰质溶蚀效应的物理模拟实验研究——以珠江口盆地惠州—陆丰地区古近系文昌组为例

为认识埋藏过程中酸性流体对碎屑岩储层中凝灰质的溶蚀改造效应及控制因素,选取珠江口盆地珠一坳陷惠州—陆丰地区古近系文昌组凝灰质砂岩储层,设计开展了岩心尺度的流体—岩石相互作用模拟实验。通过显微镜下观察、流体成分分析、物性表征等方法,对比分析了实验前后不同流体流速、不同凝灰质含量条件下砂岩储层的溶蚀作用和物性响应特征。结果表明,酸性流体环境中凝灰质溶蚀现象普遍,但不同实验条件下,凝灰质溶蚀强度及储层物性响应不同:成岩体系的开放性与封闭性决定凝灰质的溶蚀作用强弱。相同岩石和相同酸性流体条件下,高流速开放体系中凝灰质溶蚀量高于封闭体系,且低流速相对封闭体系中溶蚀产物趋于沉淀,溶蚀作用增孔效应有限。凝灰质含量显著影响溶蚀效应,富凝灰质砂岩中溶蚀作用有限,含凝灰质砂岩和贫凝灰质砂岩能够溶蚀增孔,且含凝灰质砂岩的溶蚀增孔效率更高。凝灰质含量相对中等—较低的储层中,中浅层埋藏阶段的开放成岩流体体系最有利于粒间凝灰质溶孔的发育。经历晚期酸性流体溶蚀改造后,较易形成次生溶蚀型优质储层,这一认识有助于不同地区的溶蚀型储层甜点预测。

珠江口盆地文昌A凹陷西部新生代断裂体系特征及演化过程

断裂体系发育是珠江口盆地文昌A凹陷西部地区新生代构造演化的重要表现形式。利用最新的三维地震资料,在精细刻画断裂体系静态特征的基础上,结合断层活动速率计算恢复断裂体系的动态演化过程,明确了文昌A凹陷西部地区新生代断裂体系发育的时空差异;并结合区域应力背景分析,探讨了断裂体系演化的成因机制,认为新生代以来三大板块间俯冲、碰撞及古南海俯冲消亡、新南海扩张共同造成的南海北缘区域伸展应力场顺时针旋转控制了断裂体系演化的时空差异。研究表明,文昌A凹陷西部地区断裂体系的发育演化经历了裂陷、拗陷与构造活化三个阶段,分别发育了NE(NEE)向、近EW向以及NW(NWW)向三组优势方向断裂,揭示了区域应力场伸展方向由NW—SE向到近SN向再到NNE—SSW向顺时针转变的过程;依据断裂的组合及沿承关系可将其划分为早期发育的NE向与后期发育的NW向两组交叠断裂带,NE向断裂带活动强度大、具有强烈伸展性质,NW向断裂带与基底先存断裂密切相关,活动强度弱、叠加一定走滑性质。文昌A凹陷西部新生代断裂体系演化的时空差异是对南海北缘区域应力场顺时针旋转的响应。

珠江口盆地惠州凹陷惠东新区恩平组烃源岩生烃特征及成藏贡献

珠江口盆地惠州凹陷惠东新区恩平组厚度达3000 m,沉积特征整体表现为陆相浅水广盆环境,恩平组烃源岩生烃特征和成烃规模一直是困扰研究区勘探的基础问题之一。为厘清上述两个关键问题,以构造学、沉积学以及有机地球化学相结合的研究思路为指导,在化验分析数据基础之上,重新认识本地区恩平组烃源岩特征、生烃潜力及主要成藏贡献区。研究表明:惠东地区恩平组主体发育三角洲—浅湖相沉积,烃源岩包括煤、碳质泥岩和暗色泥岩;暗色泥岩有机质丰度中等—好,有机质类型为II型,具有早期生油,晚期持续生气的特征;盆地模拟计算原油地质资源量近3×108t,天然气资源量近500×108m3,资源潜力较大;油气源对比表明恩平组烃源岩来源的油气藏主要发育在惠东地区,惠东地区下一步最有利勘探方向为邻近烃源岩的深层恩平组圈闭以及“源-断-脊-圈”匹配较好的浅层珠江、珠海组圈闭。

珠江口盆地惠北地区煤系烃源岩新认识与勘探实践

珠江口盆地恩平组煤系烃源岩因分布主控因素认识不清、发育规模不明确,导致勘探潜力被忽视。以煤系烃源岩发育区惠北地区作为研究靶区,利用地震、钻井和地化等资料,系统分析了煤系烃源岩分布主控因素,据此确定煤系烃源岩发育规模和资源潜力,从而有效指导勘探。研究表明:①纵向上,从恩四段到恩一二段沉积期,惠北地区古气候温暖湿润,古水深逐渐变浅,古构造活动强度逐渐减弱,恩一二段和恩三段有利于煤层的发育和聚集,恩四段沉积期煤层不发育;②横向上,受古沉积条件的控制,煤系烃源岩主要分布于惠州14洼北部缓坡带辫状河三角洲河道间的河漫沼泽和洼陷带滨浅湖内的湖沼范围内。基于煤系烃源岩分布规律,预测惠北地区煤系烃源岩资源量约2亿方油当量,带动了惠北地区周边勘探,也展示了珠江口盆地煤系烃源岩勘探前景。

珠江口盆地超深水区LW21-A井烃源岩分子地球化学特征与油气成因

珠江口盆地超深水区勘探程度低,珠四坳陷仅LW21-A井有油气发现,通过对其进行系统地特征分子地球化学测试与分析,揭示了所钻遇烃源岩的类型和发现油气的成因。该钻井揭示,文昌组和恩平组发育海相(海侵)泥岩和微咸水浅湖相(近海湖盆)泥岩;LW21构造气藏中存在海相(海侵)和湖相2类凝析油;LW21构造气藏中天然气主要成分为CO_(2),属于CO_(2)气藏,含一定量烷烃气;CO_(2)主要是无机幔源型成因气,烷烃气主要是油型气与海相生物气的混合型干气。这一认识对珠江口盆地超深水区珠四坳陷带的进一步评价和勘探决策具有重要意义。

断陷湖盆低勘探区源-汇系统与烃源岩预测——以珠江口盆地珠一坳陷北部洼陷区为例

烃源岩是沉积盆地含油气系统中决定油气聚集与成藏的关键因素之一。针对盆地或洼陷中勘探程度相对较低、钻井较少且烃源岩指标不丰富等烃源岩预测的难点,以珠江口盆地珠一坳陷北部低勘探区为例,从“找湖(深湖-半深湖)”、“寻泥(深湖-半深湖泥岩)”、“定烃(烃源岩预测与评价)”的角度,开展源-汇系统与烃源岩预测系统性分析。首先,以“找湖”为目的,通过多期构造古地貌恢复,阐明原始盆地面貌与古湖盆发育位置,结合“地震前积确定湖盆边界、坡折体系确定深湖-半深湖分布范围、生化指标确定湖盆古环境特征、构造强度确定湖盆规模”等分析,对低勘探区的深湖-半深湖区进行确认并对潜在发育烃源岩的洼陷进行初步遴选,研究认为文昌期HF33等洼陷和下恩平期HZ5等洼陷具备发育深湖-半深湖泥岩的潜力。其次,通过古物源、古环境和沉积体系的分析,结合构造古地貌发育特征,开展源-汇系统重建及深湖-半深湖相泥岩发育的地质背景分析,通过源-汇系统各配置要素的数值模拟,指出中等物源供给强度、细物源粒度、高湖平面、大可容空间及欠补偿-均衡补偿型盆地有利于富泥型湖泊相沉积。最后,以成熟勘探区已钻遇优质烃源岩的钻井为基础,分析与烃源岩层对应的4类深湖-半深湖地震相及其地质背景,构建成熟区“烃源岩相(烃源岩地震相)”,结合对珠一坳陷主要富烃洼陷富烃要素的系统总结,开展低勘探区优质烃源岩多因素、多维度评价与最终排序。通过研究,指出LF22,HF33,HZ24(上、下文昌组),LF7和HZ10(下文昌组)等洼陷为Ⅰ级潜在富生烃洼陷;HZ5和HZ11洼陷(下恩平组)为Ⅱ级潜在生烃洼陷。部分洼陷烃源岩的预测和评价结果在实际勘探中已得到证实。

南海北部陆缘不均匀伸展及脉动式构造升降史

南海北部陆缘在区域板块构造和深部地幔流影响下,发育了复杂的构造、岩浆和基底升降过程。本文采用最新提出的伸展校正回剥技术和4条长地震剖面,对南海北部陆缘新生代伸展变形和从张裂到裂后的构造升降过程开展详细研究。结果表明南海北部陆缘伸展减薄差别大,强伸展与弱伸展不仅具有南北分带特点,还具有东西交替出现的分块特征。琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地中部、台西南盆地伸展减薄大,部分地壳被减薄至10km以下;而珠江口西部和东部伸展减薄小,地壳厚度大都在20km以上。强伸展与弱伸展陆缘总应变不同,但应变速率均具有张裂早期慢、晚期快的二阶段特征。强伸展陆缘最大应变速率在4×10^(-15)~7×10^(-15)s^(-1)之间,地壳最大伸展系数为4~10;弱伸展陆缘最大应变速率小于1×10^(-15)s^(-1),最大伸展系数小于1.9。南海北部陆缘构造升降具有脉动式、快慢交替的特征。张裂期构造沉降快,裂后构造升降表现为4幕先慢后快及东早西晚的特点。陆缘西部琼东南盆地脉动式升降主要与深部地幔上升流引起的动力地形有关。陆缘东部珠江口和台西南盆地脉动式构造升降则可能受南海打开过程及吕宋岛弧与南海陆缘碰撞的影响。